Adam Schefter: Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott could have mutual interest in reunion

The Dallas Cowboys could likely bring back Ezekiel Elliott for the 2024 season. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on NFL Live Monday to talk about a potential reunion between the Cowboys and veteran running back.

“Over the weekend, Jeremy Fowler reported there was a chance there was mutual interest in Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys reuniting,” Schefter began. “Think about it this way, Ezekiel Elliott needs a team, and there’s not a team that makes any more sense than the Dallas Cowboys.

“The Dallas Cowboys still need another running back, and there’s not another running back that makes any more sense than Ezekiel Elliott. There would seem to be, as Jeremy pointed out, some mutual interest in the two sides.”

Schefter also said the running back market in free agency has “calmed down” and now teams like the Cowboys are “looking for value.” Elliott signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots last year after being released by the Cowboys. In the one season with the Patriots, Elliott rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games with five starts.

The Cowboys’ leading rusher last year was Tony Pollard who rushed for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns. His contract expired in March, leading to him signing a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. The team re-signed running back Rico Dowdle to a one-year deal, and he rushed for 391 yards and two toucjdowns in 2023.

Dallas Cowboys might need more than Ezekiel Elliott

While Elliott may not be the player he once was, adding him to the running back room will be beneficial to quarterberack Dak Presoctt and the Cowboys offense. But based on what one NFL insider had to say about the Cowboys, they are going to need a lot more than Elliott.

They still have needs at left tackle, center, running back, defensive tackle and receiver. While a lot of their resources will be tied up in extensions for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, it was surprising not to see them make a move on Derrick Henry or AJ Dillon,” ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum said. They deserve credit for outstanding drafting and patience in the past, but they’re going to need an almost perfect draft to fill all of their needs.”

Dallas finished the 2023 season with a 12-5 record and won the NFC East title. However, the team lost the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the playoffs and have not reached the Super Bowl since winning it all during the 1995 season.

On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this report